Multi-boss flange

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flange that includes a base region, a raised region, and a sloped region there between. The sloped region includes concave and convex curved regions positioned in a plane parallel to an elongate axis of the flange, and concave and convex curved regions positioned in a plane perpendicular to the elongate axis of the flange so as to reduce stress within and fatigue failures of the flange.

We claim: 
     
       1. A fuel tank flange, comprising:
 a flange body including a base region, a raised region, and a sloped region extending there between, wherein said raised region is positioned vertically upwardly from said base region as measured along a vertical axis of said flange body; 
 a first component aperture and a second component aperture each positioned on said raised region, and 
 a first continuous contour line that defines a boundary between said base region and said sloped region, a third continuous contour line that defines a boundary between said raised region and said sloped region, and a second continuous contour line positioned within said sloped region and between said first continuous contour line and said third continuous contour line; 
 wherein said third continuous contour line defines a plurality of convex curved regions positioned in a horizontal plane that is positioned perpendicular to said vertical axis of said flange body; and 
 wherein said flange defines a line of stress extending between said first component aperture and said second component aperture in said horizontal plane, and wherein said plurality of convex curved regions each define a normal line positioned in said horizontal plane and wherein each normal line intersects said line of stress. 
 
     
     
       2. The flange of  claim 1  wherein said third continuous contour line further defines a plurality of concave curved regions positioned in said horizontal plane, wherein individual ones of said plurality of convex curved regions are each positioned between individual ones of said plurality of concave curved regions such that said third continuous contour line defines an alternating pattern of concave and convex curved regions positioned in said horizontal plane. 
     
     
       3. The flange of  claim 1  wherein said first and second continuous contour lines define a convex contoured section there between and positioned in a plane parallel to and including said vertical axis, said second and third continuous contour lines define a concave contoured section there between and positioned in said plane parallel to and including said vertical axis, such that said second continuous contour line is a line of inflection between said concave contoured section and said convex contoured section. 
     
     
       4. The flange of  claim 3  wherein said concave contoured section defines a concave contour and said convex contoured section defines a convex contour, said concave contour and said convex contour both positioned in said plane parallel to and including said vertical axis of said flange body. 
     
     
       5. The flange of  claim 1  further comprising a third component aperture and a fourth component aperture and wherein a first of said plurality of convex curved regions defines a first normal line positioned in said horizontal plane and that intersects said line of stress and extends between said first and fourth component apertures, a second of said plurality of convex curved regions defines a second normal line positioned in said horizontal plane and that intersects said line of stress and extends between said fourth and second component apertures, a third of said plurality of convex curved regions defines a third normal line positioned in said horizontal plane and that intersects said line of stress and extends between said second and third component apertures, and a fourth of said plurality of convex curved regions defines a fourth normal line positioned in said horizontal plane and that intersects said line of stress and extends between said third and first component apertures. 
     
     
       6. The flange of  claim 5  further comprising a fifth component aperture positioned outwardly of said raised region, said fifth component aperture positioned within a second raised region positioned on said base region, said second raised region positioned vertically upwardly from said base region as measured along said vertical axis of said flange body. 
     
     
       7. The flange of  claim 6  further including a fuel draw tube secured within said first component aperture, a fuel return tube secured within said second component aperture, a fuel auxiliary tube secured within said third component aperture, a level sender assembly secured within said fourth component aperture, and a vent assembly secured within said fifth component aperture. 
     
     
       8. The flange of  claim 1  wherein said sloped region includes a concave sloped region positioned between said second and third continuous contour lines and extending around said raised region, and a convex sloped region positioned between said first and second continuous contour lines and extending around said raised region, said concave sloped region and said convex sloped region both positioned in a plane parallel to said vertical axis of said flange body, and
 said sloped region further including a plurality of section lines positioned normal to said third continuous contour line, said section lines defining alternating concave curved regions and convex curved regions within said sloped region, said alternating concave and convex curved regions positioned in a plane perpendicular to said vertical axis of said flange body. 
 
     
     
       9. A fuel tank flange assembly, comprising:
 a flange body including a base region, a raised region, and a sloped region extending there between, wherein said raised region is positioned vertically upwardly from said base region as measured along a vertical axis of said flange body, and wherein said sloped region includes a plurality of section lines; 
 a first component aperture and a second component aperture each positioned on said raised region; 
 wherein said sloped region defines a plurality of convex curved regions positioned in a plane perpendicular to said vertical axis of said flange and a plurality of concave curved regions positioned in said plane perpendicular to said vertical axis,
 wherein individual ones of said plurality of convex curved regions are each positioned between individual ones of said plurality of concave curved regions such that said sloped region defines an alternating pattern of concave and convex curved regions positioned in said plane perpendicular to said vertical axis, and wherein individual ones of said plurality of section lines define a boundary between individual ones of said alternating concave and convex curved regions, and 
 
 wherein said flange defines a line of stress extending between said first component aperture and said second component aperture, and wherein said plurality of convex curved regions each define a normal line positioned in said plane perpendicular to said vertical axis and that intersects said line of stress. 
 
     
     
       10. The flange assembly of  claim 9  wherein said sloped region defines a first continuous contour line, a second continuous contour line, and a third continuous contour line, said first and second continuous contour lines defining a convex contoured section there between, said second and third contour lines defining a concave contoured section there between such that said second continuous contour line is a line of inflection between said concave contoured section and said convex contoured section. 
     
     
       11. The flange assembly of  claim 10  wherein said concave contoured section defines a concave contour and said convex contoured section defines a convex contour, said concave contour and said convex contour both positioned in a plane parallel to and including said vertical axis of said flange. 
     
     
       12. The flange assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a third component aperture and a fourth component aperture and wherein a first of said plurality of convex curved regions defines a first normal line positioned in said plane perpendicular to said vertical axis and that intersects said line of stress and extends between said first and fourth component apertures, a second of said plurality of convex curved regions defines a second normal line positioned in said plane perpendicular to said vertical axis and that intersects said line of stress and extends between said fourth and second component apertures, a third of said plurality of convex curved regions defines a third normal line positioned in said plane perpendicular to said vertical axis and that intersects said line of stress and extends between said second and third component apertures, and a fourth of said plurality of convex curved regions defines a fourth normal line positioned in said plane perpendicular to said vertical axis and that intersects said line of stress and extends between said third and first component apertures. 
     
     
       13. The flange assembly of  claim 12  further comprising a fifth component aperture positioned outwardly of said raised region, said fifth component aperture positioned within a second raised region positioned on said base region, said second raised region positioned vertically upwardly from said base region as measured along said vertical axis of said flange body. 
     
     
       14. The flange assembly of  claim 13  further including a fuel draw tube secured within said first component aperture, a fuel return tube secured within said second component aperture, a fuel auxiliary tube secured within said third component aperture, a level sender assembly secured within said fourth component aperture, and a vent assembly secured within said fifth component aperture. 
     
     
       15. A flange, comprising:
 a flange body including a base region, a raised region, and a sloped region extending there between, wherein said raised region is positioned vertically upwardly from said base region as measured along a vertical axis of said flange body; and 
 a first component aperture and a second component aperture each positioned on said raised region; 
 wherein said sloped region includes first, second and third continuous contour lines positioned around said raised region and a plurality of section lines that each extend from said first continuous contour line, through said second continuous contour line, and to said third continuous contour line, wherein said plurality of section lines define an alternating pattern of convex curved regions and concave curved regions extending around said raised region and positioned in a plane perpendicular to said vertical axis of said flange, and wherein said first and second continuous contour lines define a concave contour section therebetween that is positioned in a plane parallel to said vertical axis of said flange body, and wherein said second and third continuous contour lines define a convex contour section therebetween that is positioned in a plane parallel to said vertical axis of said flange body, and 
 wherein said flange defines a line of stress extending between said first component aperture and said second component aperture, and wherein said alternating pattern includes first, second and third convex curved regions that each define a normal line positioned in said plane perpendicular to said vertical axis and that intersects said line of stress.